Part 12: The End
Read the passage carefully before answering the questions. Click any word to collect it. Click an underlined word to reveal its definition below.
Reginald awoke the next morning with a start. Memories of the night before came flooding back. How foolish he had been, how close he had come to… it didn't bear thinking about. He could never let this happen again. It was time to speak with the cat.
He scurried out of his hole and made his way into the living room. Sure enough, there on the rug was Simon, curled up tight like a knot of fur and whiskers.
'Ahem,' Reginald cleared his throat.
Simon unfurled from his ball and eyed the rat with an expression that was first puzzled and then turned to annoyance.
"Come to mock me again?" Simon snapped, angrily.
"No, actually," replied Reginald, "I came to thank you."
Simon started. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. This was the first time Reginald had ever spoken to him like this. Simon kept silent, waiting to hear what he would say next. Neither mammal spoke.
"That was all," said Reginald, "Thank you."
He turned and began to walk away, keeping half an eye fearfully on Simon as he did so.
"That's okay," said Simon, "All I really wanted was for you to take me seriously. And, I suppose, for Penelope to take me seriously too."
Reginald looked back and nodded solemnly, then turned on his heels and scurried off.
Simon let out a purr and curled back into a ball. From the kitchen, out of sight of them both, Penelope gave a small smile to herself.
THE END
Vocabulary
Click an underlined word in the passage above to reveal its definition here.
Section 1: What Happened?
Answer using evidence from the passage. Use full sentences where possible.
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1aWhy does Reginald decide to go and speak to Simon?(1 mark)
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1bWhat happened the night before that made him feel this way?(1 mark)
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2aWhat does Simon first assume Reginald has come to do?(1 mark)
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2bHow does Simon react?(1 mark)
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3What does Reginald actually say to Simon?(1 mark)
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4aWhat is the first thing Simon says he really wanted all along?(1 mark)
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4bWhat is the second?(1 mark)
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5What happens at the very end of the story? Describe what each character does.(3 marks)
Section 2: Perspectives & Feelings
Think about how the characters are feeling and why they behave the way they do. Use the text to support your ideas.
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6How has Reginald's behaviour towards Simon changed in this extract? Use evidence from the text.(2 marks)
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7Why do you think Reginald walks away "keeping half an eye fearfully on Simon"? What does this tell us about how he still sees Simon?(2 marks)
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8Simon says he wanted "Penelope to take me seriously too." Why is this important? What does it tell us about what really drove him throughout the story?(3 marks)
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9Why do you think Penelope smiles to herself at the end? What might she be thinking and feeling?(4 marks)
Section 3: Writer's Corner
Think about the choices the writer has made and what effect they have on the reader.
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10The writer says Simon "unfurled from his ball." What does this image suggest about Simon at this moment?(2 marks)
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11"Neither mammal spoke." Why does the writer use the word "mammal" here instead of naming Simon and Reginald? What effect does it have?(2 marks)
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12This is the final extract of the story. How does the writer bring the story to a satisfying close? Think about what each character gets from this ending.(4 marks)
Section 4: Writing Task
Creative Writing Task — 20 minutes
Write a story entitled The Apology.
You might think about:
- Who is apologising, and what for? It doesn't have to be between people — it could be between animals, rivals, strangers, or even countries.
- Is the apology easy or hard to give? Does the other person accept it?
- How does the world feel different — or the same — at the end?
The best stories about apologies are really about pride, courage, and what it costs to admit you were wrong. Think about what your characters really want beneath the surface.